Rotary snowplow



March 11, 1930. y GRIFFlN ET AL 1,749,810

ROTARY SNOWPLOW Filed May 21, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 (D I anagm tms: N i w JZImes Hail/7771,

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Witnes a M.

March 11, .1930. J GRlFFlN 51' AL 1,749,810

ROTARY SNOWPLOW Filed May 21, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 1930. J. H. GRIFFIN ET AL ROTARY SNOWPLOW Filed May 21, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 amzzzzwo'rziz E. 2167;

Patented Mar. 11, 1930 UNITED STATES,

PATENT OFFICE JAMESH. GRIFFIN AND ELLSWORTH E. TIERS, OF CLAY CENTER, KANSAS ROTARY SNOWPLOW Application filed May 21,

Our invention relates to rotary snow plows and one object is to provide a machine which will effectively clear the snow from the highways in order that the latter can be kept open for traffic during the winter season.

A further object is to provide a machine of this character which can be pushed forwardly over a highway by a team or a tractor and will collect and discharge the snow clear of either or both sides of the highway, as preferred. 7

Other objects will hereinafter appear, and in order that the invention may be fully understood reference will now be had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation-of the machine with a portion of the housing thereof broken away.

Fig. 2 is a plan view partly in section on line 2 of Fig. 1, showing the machine coupled to the forward portion of a tractor.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the machine with a portion of the mechanism nearest to the observer removed.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical section on 2 line 44 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a detail of one of a pair of valves.

Fig. 6 is a broken perspective view of a portion of the mechanism for operating the valves.

Referring in detail to the different parts, 2 designates a suitable frame which is mounted upon an axle 4 carried by a pair of ground wheels 6'. The spindles 80f the ground wheels 6 are'connected by pivots 10 to the ends of the axle 4 and provided with steering arms 12, the foregoing construction being similar to the well-known steering mechanism onthe front wheels of motor vehicles. When a tractor A is employed for advancing the machine crossed steering rods 14 arepivotally connected to the steering arms 12 and the front axle B of the tractor, as shown by Fig. 2, so that the tractor will steer the snow plow while propelling the latter.

16- designates a housing which is secured tothe frontportion of the frame 2 by suitable means such as brackets 18-. The front wall of the housing 16 constitutes a snow collector 26 which has a centrally-disposed forwardly projecting divider 22 for directing the snow 192?. Serial No. 193,319.

to a pair of oppositely-disposed circular inlets 24 and 25 formed in said housing 16. The divider 22 is assisted in directing the snow to the circular inlets 24 and 25 by a horizontally-disposed blade 26 extending forwardly from the lower portion of the collector 20. The upper portion of the housing 16 is provided with oppositely-disposed discharge chutes 28 and 30 which communicate at their lower portions with the circular inlets 24 and 25, respectively.

32 and 34 designate a pair of rotors arranged within the circular inlets 24 and 25 and consisting of blades 36 and 38 mounted upon shafts 40 and 42 arranged concentrically within said inlets 24 and 25, respectively. The shafts 40 and 42 are journaled in gear casings 44 and 46' secured to the forward portion of the frame 2, and said shafts 40 and 42 are provided at their rear ends with bevel gears 48 and 50, respectively.

The bevel ears 48 and 50 are adapted to be driven inc ependently of eachother, and either in the same direction or in opposite directions by the following mechanism. 52 designates a main shaft extending transversely to the shafts 40 and 42 and journaled in the casings 44 and 46. 54 designates a clutch member slidably mounted upon said main shaft 52, but caused to rotate there with through the usual spline, not shown. 58 and 60 designate two bevel gears loosely mounted upon the main shaft 52 and intermeshing with the bevel gear 48. Said bevel gears 58 and 60 have clutch members with which the clutch members 54 may be alternately thrown in and out of gear by means of a lever 62 operably connected at its outer end to one end of a rod 64, which latter is operably connected at its opposite end to a crank 66 fixedly mounted upon a rock-shaft 68 journaled in bearings 70 and provided with a hand lever 72.

7 6 designates another clutch member similar to the clutch member 54 and slidably mounted upon the drive shaft 52, but caused .to rotate therewith through the customary spline, not shown. 7 8 and 7 9 designate two bevel gears intermeshing with the bevel gear 50 and loosely mounted upon the main shaft their upper ends with forwardly projecting flanges 95 and 97 for partially closing communication between the circular inlets 24 and 25 and the diecharge chutes 28 and 30, respectively. Sald valves 94 and 96 are fixed to sleeves 98 and 100 rockably mounted upon the forward portions of the gear casings 44 and 46 and provided with arms102 and104 which are connected to cranks 106 and 108 through the intermediaryof connectingrods 110 and 112, respectively. The cranks 106 r and 108 are fixedly mounted upon pivots: 114

and 116 journaled in bearings 118 and 120, respectively, secured to the lower portion of a blower housing 122 mounted upon the upper rear portion of the housing 16 and communicating with the chutes 28 and 30 through an opening 124. The housing 122 is equipped with a suitable fan or blower 126 which creates a blast of air for assisting the rotors 32 and 34 in discharging the snow through the chutes 28 and 30, respectively.

128 and 130 designate two independent sets of deflectors for controlling the blast of air created by the blower 126. Said deflectors 128 and 130 are mounted adjacent to the opening 124 and each set consists in the present instance of a group of three blades.

114 and one blade of the other group is mounted upon the pivot 116. The remaining blades of the deflectors 128and 130, are mounted upon pivots 132 and 134, which are operably mounted in the upper and lower portions of the blower housing 122. Each group of blades 128 and 130 are operably united by connecting rods 138 and 140, re-

, supectively, so that the blades of each group The drive shaft 154 in addition to being equipped with the bevel gear 152, is also provided with a fixedlymounted bevel gear 158 which intermeshes with and drives a bevel gear 160 fixedly mounted upon the main shaft 52. In order that the blower 126rnay One blade of one group is mounted upon the pivot I be thrown in and out of gearwith the motor 156, the bevel gear 146 is loosely mounted member 149 adapted to be driven by a companion clutch member 151 slidably mounted upon the shaft 148, but rotatable "with the latter through'the intermediary of the usual spline, not shown. The clutch: member 151 is controlled by a bell-crank 153, which is actuated by a rod'155.

In order to prevent, thesnow from adhering to the rotors 32 and 34 we provide means for lubricating the blades thereof as follows: The hubs of the rotors 32 and 34 are provided with oil chambers 51 and 53 having outlet ports 67 through which a suitable oil or a combination of oils may blow, to the blades 36 and 38, respectively. The chambers housing 122 and, communicating with the 7 interior of the latter throughfone or more ports'61. As the blower 126 revolves the oil drips'thereon through the ports 61 and is churned into minute particles which are blown outwardly by the blast from the blower 126 and coat the interior walls of said chutes 28 and 30. p 7

The arms102 and 104 which control the valves 94 and 96 and the air deflectors 128 and 130 through the connections hereinbefore described, arein turn controlled independently of each other by. the following mechanisms. 162 and 164 designate connecting rods pivotally secured at oneend to said arms. 102 and 104 and-pivotally connected at their opposite end to cranks 166 and 168 fixedly mounted upon rock-shafts 170 and 172 mounted in bearings 174 and 176, respectively. The rock-shafts 170 and 172 are provided with fixedly mounted cranks 178 and 180 which are operably connected to hand levers 182 and 184 through the intermediary of connecting rods 186 and 188, respectively. The hand levers 182 and 184 are rockably mounted upon the shafts 68 and 86 and located adjacent to the hand" levers 72 and 90, respectively, whichare arranged adjacent to a platform 190 secured to the rear portion of the frame 2 for carrying an attendant who is to operate the various manually controlled mechanisms herein before described. I

The operation briefly stated is as follows: If it is desired to discharge the snowclear of each side of the highway the gearing, for driving the rotors 32 and 34 is adjusted to drive said rotors'in the direction of thearrows at and the valves 94 and 96 are adusted to the positions disclosed by Fig. 1.

I The two groups of air deflectors 128 and 130 flectors 130 direct the remainder of the blast outwardly through the chute 30, thereby cooperating with the rotors 32 and 34 and the valves 94 and 96 in throwing the snow to opposite sides of the highway as stated. If it is desired to throw all of the snow outward- 1y through the chute 28, the valve 94 and the deflectors 128 are left in the positions abovementioned, but the valve 96 is adjusted to close communication between the right-hand side of the inlet 25 and the chute 30, while the deflectors 130 are adjusted in a similar position to the deflectors 130 through the intermediary of their connection with said valve 96. The mechanism for driving the rotor 38 is also adjusted for driving said rotor in reverse direction to the associate arrow a. On the other hand if all of the snow is to be discharged from the chute 30, the valve 96 and the deflectors 130 are left in their initial position while the valve 94 is adjusted to close communication between the left side of the inlet 24 and the chute 28. While thus being adjusted said valve 94 through the intermediary of the connecting mechanism adjusts the deflectors 128 in the same direction as the deflectors 130, while the mechanism for driving the rotor 32 is adjusted to drive the latter in a reverse direction to the associate arrow a.

In Fig. 3, we have shown a tongue 200 which is coupled to the snow plow in place of the tractor A and mounted at its rear end upon a tiller wheel 202. A team may be hitched to said tongue 200 for pushing the snow plow forwardly over the highway. Means for adjusting the housing 16 vertically is provided in the form of a connecting rod 203, which is operably secured at its lower end to a hand lever 204 and at its upper end to the rear portion of the blower housing 122. By throwing said lever 204 forwardly the housing 16 is lowered close to the surface of the road, and conversely when said lever 204 is drawn backwar dly it raises the housing 16 so that it will leave sutficient snow upon the highway for coasting and other winter sports. The housing 16 is permitted to move vertically by rocking the frame 2 around the centers of the ground wheels 6.

From the foregoing description it is ap parent that we have provided a snow plow embodying the advantages above pointed out, and while we have shown a described and preferred embodiment of the invention we reserve all rights to such changes and modifications as properly fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having thus described our invention, what posed discharge chutes communicating with said inlets, a rotor associated with each inlet, a valve associated with. each inlet for par tially closing communication between the latter and either of said discharge chutes, and

independent mechanisms for operating each a valve. c

2. In a machine of the character described, a housing having an inlet and oppositely-disposed discharge chutes communicating with said inlet, a rotor associated with said inlet, mechanism. for driving said rotor in reverse directions, a blower communicating with said discharge chutes, and air deflectors interposed between said 7 blower and said discharge chutes.

3. In a machine of the character described, a housing having an inlet and oppositelydisposed discharge chutes communicating with said inlet, a rotor associated with said inlet, mechanism for driving said rotor in reverse directions, a blower communicating with said discharge chutes, two groups of adj ustable air deflectors interposed between said blower and said discharge chutes, and independent mechanisms for adjusting each group .1

so that the latter may deflect a blast from the blower into both chutes or deflect said blast into either chute.

4. In a machine of the character described, a housing having inlets and oppositely-disposed discharge chutes communicating with said inlets, a rotor associated with each inlet, a valve associated with each inlet for partially closing communication between the latter and either of said discharge chutes, a blower communicating with said discharge chutes, two groups of adjustable air deflectors interposed between said blower and said discharge chutes, independent mechanisms for adjusting each group so that they may deflect the blast from the blower into both chutes or into either chute, and mechanisms for actuating the valves simultaneously with said groups.

5. In a machine of the character described, a housing having an inlet and oppositely-disposed discharge chutes communicating with said inlet, a rotor associated with said inlet and including a plurality of blades, a blower communicating with said housing and adapted to force air through the discharge chutes, and a container adapted to discharge a lubricant in front of said blower.

6. In a machine of the character described, a housing having inlets and discharge chutes,

rotors mounted in said housing, a blower communicating with said housing, and air deflectors interposed between said blower and the discharge chutes.

7 In a machine of the character described, a housing having an inlet and a discharge 4" meegezoi chute communieztti ng' with saici inlet,- means for fprcing a blast of air thrpugh said discharge chute, and a container for discharging a'hrbr'icam into said air blast. v

8. In a machine ofthe character described, a housiimghaving inlets and disharg'e chutes cenamuni caiting with said inl'etsg rotor's located in' said inl'ets', shafts upcfi'which: said rotors are mounted, bearings in which said shaft-s 10 are mounted, sleeves rockably mounted on vsaid bearings, valves fixed. to said sleeves and arranged to partially close communication 106- I tween the inlets and-the respective chutes, and independent mechanisms for rocking said 15 sleeves.

In testimony whereof We afdx our signatunes. 7

JAMES H; GRIFFIN. 

